My computer clock says 1:17am. I just finished grading the last of about 65 short papers. Students’ grades are finally posted. Everything is done online. With the option of turning it in online or in class, perhaps 7-8 students out of 30-35 turn it in, in class. The rest are online. Their grades with my comments are sent back to them online. Not e-mail, but a special program.
Something happens in the air at 1:17am. The house is totally quiet. No tv is blaring, no phone calls are coming in, no one is talking. It is almost as if a spiritual atmosphere enfolds the place. We feel like we can talk and the world will hear, but we are actually, truly alone.
I feel somewhat sad tonight. I am sad that I cannot see my grandsons 4 states away. This is the longest break yet. It will last 2 more months, for a total of 4 before I see them and hug them again. It is not really enough to maintain contact. Visits are good but they are too brief to really feel close and intimate with them. But, what can we do? We now live here and will stay here. We just have to do our best. My 9-yr-old who I chatted with on facebook tonight, told me he is “too old” to go Halloweening this year!! I said RUBBISH!! Become a pirate and go out and have some fun, get some o’ that LOOT, matey!! Ahoy! He had none of it. I said “CANDY” and he said, “BE QUIET”. So that is the state of the world.
I am sad tonight that I have a family member who will not speak to me and acts as if I am the devil from hell. I can’t say who it is because she or he will then get irritated. That makes me sad tonight. We only have a certain short number of years in this world.
I am EXTREMELY happy that tomorrow is payday.
Somehow, by some miracle of sorts, I will review tests in both Stratification and Social Theory tomorrow, as well as address Max Weber’s “class, status and party”. And I will do a children’s virtues class from 4 to 4:45, which is not yet fully planned. Should be interesting.
I really, really want to sleep in tomorrow but I can’t. So I’d best hit the sack, on which my husband is already snoring.